Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/02/12
By: Joseph Yeh

Taiwanese fraud suspects awaiting deportation at Manila International Airport (Photo courtesy of airport personnel)

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday expressed its grave concern and regret to the Philippines after Manila deported seven Taiwanese fraud suspects to China that morning.

It was the second time in less than a year that the Philippines had sent Taiwanese nationals to China despite urgings from Taipei not to do so.

MOFA deputy spokesperson Joanne Ou (歐江安) said Taiwan had repeatedly called on the Philippines since the suspects were arrested in October 2018 to respect their wishes and honor the nationality principle by deporting them back to Taiwan.

Under strong pressure from Beijing, however, Manila ultimately decided to deport the Taiwanese nationals to the other side of the Taiwan Strait.    [FULL STORY]